Binder



pril 25, 1961 T. R. SMITH ET AL BINDER Filed July 18, 1958 IN VENTORS L/amL' eso/1 AT Y' ORNE 515 BINDER Elm St., Dighton, Mass., and 320 Ryegate Terrace, Stratford,

Thomas R. Smith, 16 William Jamieson, Conn.

Filed July 18, 1958, Ser. No. 749,410 4 Claims. (Cl. 129-40) This invention relates to binders for magazines, brochures or like folded elements. More specifically, it pertains t binder members adapted to be associated with a support or cover member for removably retaining a plurality of folded elements in position with respect thereto.

Heretofore, in binders for periodicals and similar folded elements, the retaining mechanism, or member for engaging the element being bound, has been a relatively complicated structure. having a plurality of moving parts, which is costly to manufacture and not readily adapted for use with folded elements of varying dimension. Further, many of the prior art devices would function only with folded elements which have been punched, cut or otherwise mutilated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a binder for folded elements which, eliminates the problems encountered in the prior art, is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and readily adapted for usein binding folded elements of varying dimension.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a binder for folded elements which includes a pair of binder members, of simple one-piece construction, adapted to removably engage a plurality of folded elements, without resorting to altering the same, to retain the elements in position relative one another.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a binder for folded elements which is readily assembled and disassembled and which requires no rivets or similar fasteners in its construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide binder members, for use in binders for folded elements, which are reusable and adapted for use with dierent supporting covers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a binder for folded elements which includes a pair of binder membersadapted to removably engage a plurality of folded elements for retaining the same in position relative one another and means for removably supporting the members in spaced relation so that elements of varying dimension may be supported therebetween.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a binder for folded elements, of a binder member having a plurality of integrally formed prongs for removably engaging adjacent elements, in the folds thereof, for retaining the same in position relative one another.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a binder for folded elements which includes a supporting cover having a medial portion adapted to be engaged by a pair of binder members, each of the members including a supporting block and integral engaging prongs extending therefrom for gripping and removably retaining a plurality of folded elements in position with respect to the supporting cover.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide, in a binder for folded elements, a binder member of unitary structure which is readily manufactured by quantity tent- O Patented Apr. 25, 1961 2 Y production methods and is of such rugged character as to function over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings, illustrating one form of the invention, wherein like characters represent like parts. and in which:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view of a binder, according to the invention, operably supporting a plurality of folded elements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially broken away and in section` of a binder for folded elements according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a binder member for use in a binder for folded elements;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the binder member of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a binder mem-Q ber in operable position in a binder for folded elements; and Y Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 6-76 in Fig. 5. Y i

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, a binder for folded elements such as magazines, brochures, pamphlets and the like is generally indicated by the numeral 10. A supporting cover 11, which may be cardboard, reinforced paper, sheet plastic, leather or similar flexible or inflexible material, in-` cludes a front cover member 12, a back cover member 13 and a medial member 14 between the front and back covers, connecting the same. The medial cover portion 14 which connects front and back covers 12 and 13 may be formed integral therewith and of an equal length or may be formed, as illustrated in Fig. l, of reduced length to more readily accommodate binder members 1S. The` binder members, which form the element engaging por# tion of binder 10, are adapted to be utilized in pairs and be removably mounted on the medial portion 14 of a supporting cover 11. It will be noted, that the binder members may be used with supporting covers 11 of different sizes, thereby forming binders 10 which are adapted to accommodate folded elements of varying dimension.` In mounted position, the binder members 15 removably engage a plurality of folded elements 16 and retain the COVel'.

The binder members 15, whichgare identical in struc` ture and may be formed of plastic or any other light, dur-y able, moldable material, include a supporting block 17I having integrally formed side walls 18 and an end wall 19; A plurality of spaced parallel engaging prongs 20 areintegrally formed with end wall 19 and extend between side walls 18 to form with block 17 a fold receiving passage 21. The prongs may conveniently be formed with an inclined edge 22 at their end directed away from end Wall 19 to facilitate their insertion into the fold of an element 16 and the seating of such element in the passage 21. Rearwardly of supporting block 17 and forming an integral depending extension of end wall 19 is a mounting member 2,3, which forms, with the supporting block, a channel 24 adapted to receive a portion of medial cover member 14. The inner surface of mounting member or arm 23 and the opposed surface of supporting block 17 may conveniently be provided with alternating nipples or protrusions 25 for frictionally gripping the engaged portion of medial cover member 14. lt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other means may be resorted to for retaining the binder member in removable engagement with supporting cover 11.

In utilizing the above described binder 10, a pair of oppositely positioned binder members 15 are engaged with a plurality of adjacent folded elements 16 such that one prong 20 of each binder member is inserted in an opposite end 16a of each element. On inserting .the prongs 20 into the folds 16a, to the extent of their full length, the fold portions of elements 16 are housed within passage 21, between the prongs and supporting blocks 17, to retain the elements against displacement with `respect to the members 15. After the desired number of foldedV elements 16 have been engaged with the pair of binder members 15, the supporting cover 11 is flexed or buckled so that the end portions of medial cover member 14 may be inserted within the channels 24, between arm 23 and the opposed Wall of supporting block 17, of the binder members. In this manner, binder members 15, with engaged folded elements 16, are connected in spaced relation to supporting cover 11. lt should here be noted that side walls 18 and end Wall 19 of the binder members, in addition to supporting and protecting engaging prongs 20, function to reinforce the joints between medial wall portion 14 and front and back cover members 12 and 13 of the cover.

While the binder may be utilized as above described, it Will be obvious that other methods for connecting the parts and achieving the desired results may be followed. It is contemplated, within the scope of the invention, that the pair of oppositely positioned binder members 1S may be mounted on the supporting cover 11, with the ends of medial cover member 14 inserted within the channels 24, to subsequently receive between them a plurality of folded elements 16. In following this method of utilizing binder 10, which is particularly suited to inexible supporting covers 11, the folded elements 16 are flexed or buckled to facilitate the insertion of prongs 20 of spaced members into the folds 16a thereof.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in the structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as deined by the claims.

We claim:

1. A binder for magazines, brochures or the like folded elements comprising a pair of bindervmembers and means for supporting said members in spaced relation relative one another; said members each vincluding a supporting block, a plurality of engaging prongs formed integral with said block for removable insertion in the folds of adjacent elements to retain the same in position with respect to said block, an arm connected parallel with said block and forming therebetween a channel for removably receiving a portion of said supporting means and protrusions extending into said channel for frictionally engaging said supporting means so that said member is removably connected thereto.

2. A binder for magazines, brochures or like folded elements comprising a pair of binder members and means for supporting said members in spaced relation relative one to another; said members each including a supporting block, a pair of spaced parallel side walls formed integral with said block, an end wall formed integral with said block and said side walls and connecting the latter, a plurality of spaced parallel engaging prongs formed integral with said end wall and forming with said block a passage for receiving a portion of a folded element, said prongs being adapted for removable insertion of the folds of adacent elements to retain the same in position with said block, means forming part of said block and cooperating therewith to form a channel for removably receiving a portion of said supporting means and means extending into said channel for frictionally engaging said supporting means so that said member is removably connected thereto.

3. A binder member for use in a binder for folded elements including a supporting cover comprising a sup porting block, a plurality of engaging prongs formed integral with said block for removable insertion in the folds of adjacent elements to retain the same in position with respect to said block, means forming part of said block and cooperating therewith to provide a channel for removably receiving a portion of said supporting cover and means extending into said channel for frictionally engaging said supporting cover so that said'member is removably connected thereto.

4. A binder member for use in a binder for folded elements including a supporting cover comprising a supporting block, a pair of spaced parallel side Walls formed integral with said block, an end wall formed integral with said block and said side walls and connecting the latter, a plurality of spaced parallel engaging prongs formed in* tegral with said end wall and forming with said block a passage for receiving a portion of a fold of a folded element, said prongs being adapted for removable insertion in the folds of adjacent elements to retain the same in position with respect to said block, means forming part of said block and cooperating therewith to provide a channel for removably receiving a portion of said supporting cover and means extending into said channel for frictionally engaging said supporting cover so that said member is removably connected thereto. 1

References Cited in the file of -this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 806,861 Wolf Dec. l2, 1905 1,826,627 Meyerson Oct. 6, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,097 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1894 429,038 Great Britain May 23, 1935 

